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An iconic sign of innovation in the Silicon Valley is being dismantled. The Ampex sign, seen for decades right along Highway 101 in Redwood City, is coming down despite an effort to save it.

In the early days of Silicon Valley, Ampex was a king. Many of the ways we consume TV, sports and music are credited to Ampex patents. It pioneered audio recording and the tape recorder, thanks in part to former executive Mark Sanders.

"About 50 major companies. If you look at these geneology charts of Silicon Valley, the one for media and technology, it all comes from Ampex," Sanders said.